For Nathan Lyon, it's a happy homecoming. Exactly a year ago, he was assisting curator Damian Hough to prepare the wicket for the Ashes Test here the Adelaide Oval. This year, Lyon will look to spin Australia to a series-whitewash of India in the fourth and final Test starting Tuesday.


Lyon bowls in the nets at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images

"It's been a great journey. It's a lovely moment for me to wear the Baggy Green and enter the Adelaide Oval. But, my working career is in the past now. My only focus is on Test cricket now," the off-spinner told reporters after Australia's four-hour long training session here on Saturday.

Lyon though felt that Australia could still play four quick bowlers -- a very rare occurrence at Adelaide. "There's still a fair amount of grass there. We may still go with four quicks. We have to wait and see what plot Mickey (Arthur) comes up with," he said.

Lyon bowled only 50.5 overs in the first two Tests before Australia went with a four-pronged pace attack at Perth. Though he realises that he's got a bigger role in what is typically a batting beauty. "I am pretty positive (that) this one is going to go five days and it's going to be a pretty hard tussle for us (to get the Indian batsmen out). The pitch is only going to get slower and lower, so hopefully it'll have a little bit more turn out there for me," he said.

"It's just been a great challenge for myself, being a young spinner and bowling against the best batters against spin. Their hands are unbelievable and they're really confident against spin, so it's a great challenge for myself and I'm loving every moment of it," he added.

When asked if he had a more defensive role to perform in home Tests, Lyon said: "I still have clear plans with Pup (Michael Clarke) and always for myself try to be an attacking spin bowler and try to take wickets, but in this series our quicks have been doing the damage, so I haven't had the opportunity to bowl long spells and get in as it's been a couple of short Test matches. Hopefully if I get the nod out here I'll be able to bowl a few long spells and see where we get to."